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2.13.2009

This has been such a non-stop week with news writing and speaking engagements that it just hit me that I did not share with you all the details of my speaking trip to Pensacola, Florida on last weekend from February 6-7.

The invite came from a group that I met in that city during the Grassroots Media Tour back in October. The organization is called Movement For Change (MFC) and has been in existence since the early 90's. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at their 2nd Annual Stop The Violence Rally on that Saturday.

But on Friday, I spoke at Gaines High School, which is considered the last chance for many students who have been kicked out of the public school system. I addressed 100 students on the importance attaining to greatness and not settling for the labels that many may have placed on them. A few cried and some of them said to me "That's exactly what I needed to hear".

The next day was the Stop the Violence rally. Prior to speaking I had a chance to hear the town's new Sheriff, one of the city council members, a Black student leader from West Florida University, a choir and an awesome young saxophonist. I am going to blog about the saxophonist real soon!

Just like every city in America, Black on Black violence is rising in Pensacola so my message was taking from a text by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan titled "The Cause and Effect of A Violent Society"....and the weather was perfect!